Tres Leches

These are newly hatched Florida pompano (Trachinotus carolinus) larvae reared at the Florida Atlantic University Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute. At just zero days post-hatch, they have only recently emerged from their eggs and represent the earliest stage of development for this coastal species. Their bodies are nearly transparent, with organ systems and sensory structures still forming. At this stage, the larvae rely entirely on yolk reserves for energy to support rapid cellular growth. They were reared as part of a research project investigating the ontogeny of Florida pompano to better understand the timing of morphological and physiological changes during early development. This knowledge is essential for improving larval rearing practices and establishing successful pompano culture methods.